The Secret Lives of Books

Through December 23, 2019

Rare books may seem quiet and static, yet these volumes tell stories of their makers, authors, and readers — and continue to influence scholarship, art, and the public imagination.

In the Wangensteen Historical Library’s new exhibit, we turn on the lights and open the stacks to reveal the past and present secret lives of books and tell their captivating stories of health, illness, and the human experience.

In an evolving exhibit experience, guest-curated exhibit vignetteswill be changed each month to reveal more stories about rare books and their intersections with current events, historical experiences, and the research programs at the University of Minnesota.